This Week in Retail: Roast Features Make Room for Grilling Ads

Although some portions of the country are still experiencing cool weather and even snow, various grilling cuts are beginning to surface in circulars as consumers dust off their grills—despite being a month away from the unofficial Memorial Day kickstart to summer.

For grocers, the seasonal uptick in demand typically boosts sales for items like loins, butts, and ribs over the next few weeks as warmer weather drives increased outdoor activity.

In the meantime, retailers are preparing for the next retail occasion—Cinco de Mayo. The approaching celebration could increase store traffic as shoppers stock up on pork, beef, and chicken for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and beyond...

This Week in Retail: NFL Season Kicks Off, Boosting Protein Demand

The unofficial end of summer is in the rearview mirror and the National Football League season kicks off today with a game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Football viewing parties along with tailgating provide additional opportunities for consumers to gather and celebrate game day with finger foods and protein-centric meals like burgers, hot dogs, ribs, and of course—wings. Football season increases foot traffic at both the meat case and prepared foods sections in the supermarket as eager fans stock up on favorites while cheering for their teams. 

While pumpkin-flavored everything is already making headlines, many parts of the country are still enjoying warm weather. Some households may continue to barbeque outdoors, aiding in prolonged support for grilling cuts in the near term...

ANALYSIS: July Pork in Cold Storage Breakdown

July’s USDA Cold Storage report, released on August 23^rd, showed that while progress was made in restocking the freezers for a couple of categories of cuts, there are still...

This Week in Retail: Prepping for Labor Day; Pork and Beef Indices Forge Record Highs  

Labor Day weekend – a symbolic end of summer – is sadly within reach for families scrambling to fit in one last vacation before school resumes. For some college students, the fall semester has already begun. Among retailers, the Labor Day holiday is widely viewed as the last major grilling weekend of the year.

Grocery stores could see an uptick in foot traffic as parents restock on school staples like breakfast and lunch foods. Typically, aside from back-to-school demand and Labor Day grilling opportunities, the meat case takes a back seat in mid to late August. This year, however, beef and pork appear well-positioned to remain in the spotlight despite a traditional period of seasonal...